Take-up mechanism for looms.



No. 887,485. PATENTED MAY l2, 1908. G. H. LEITNER.

TAKE-UP MEGHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLIOATION Hum UG. 16 1907.

A s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 887,485. PATENTED MAY l2, 1908. G. H. LEITNER.

TAKE-UP MBGHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLIOATIONIILBD AUG. 16. 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

54235542 y 20 57, M5 2b x. i4" 0 A fr non n .n k-. 0 @T9 l Z5 .P1755 57 v No. 887,485. PATBNTED MAY l2, 1908.

f G. H. LEITNER.

TAKE-UP MECHANISM FOR LUOMS.

ArPLwATIoN Hmm .1e 19o AUG 7 asuma-SHEET a.

UNITED srarns najaar oriucn.

GEORGE H. LEITNER, OF AUGUS'IA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR 'lO DRA lfll UOMPANY, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A t'OliPOliA'llOhl, OF MAINE.

TAKE-UP MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Patented. May 12, 1908.

August 16, 1907.

No. 887,485. Specification of Letters Patent.

Original application filed March 11, 1907. Serial No. 361,680. Divided and this application led Serial No. 388,848.

thereto one practical embodiment ol my present iiivention, the greater part ol" the take-up mechanism being' omitted to avoid con'lusion; Fig. 2 is a detail on the line 2 2, Fig. l, looking' toward the right, showing the takeup mechanism in side elevation, and the means l'or controlling the operation thereol; Fig. 3 is a lront elevation olE the arm which is attached to the controlling or operating rockshalt olE the 'lilliiig-replenisliing mechanism and through which arm the thin-place detecting instrumentality governs such mechanism and the take-up mechanisi'n, Fig. i is a transverse sectional detail on the line 4--it, Fig. l, looking to the lelt, ot a To all whom it lmay concern.'

Beit known that l, GEORGE ll'. linrrNEn, a citizen of the United States, and resident ol" Augusta, county ol: Richmond, State ot' Georgia, have invented an improvement in Take- Up Mechanism for Looms, ot which the tollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specii'ication, like letters on the drawing representing like parts.

In another application Se. No. 361,680, liled by me the 11th day ot' March, 1907, l have shown and described a loom of the automatic 'lilling re )lenishing type wherein the operation of tlie replenishing mechanism is governed by or through a thin-place detecting instrumentality, thereby eliminating' the use oi filling-forks which cooperate directly with the intact running iilling, and also obviating the employmei'it ol a teeler device to ell'ect lilling re lenishment prior to complete exhaustion of the ruiming iilling. lhe application aforesaid also discloses means to stop the take-up ol" the cloth and to let the same back upon the detecting action ol2 the thinplace detecting means, in order that when the fresh filling is laid it will be beaten in next the last pick ol old `l'illing, eliminating the 'formation of a permanent thin place in the cloth. That is, when the detector acts a technical thin place has been Vtermed but it is only temporary, lor by the stoppage ol takeup and letting back ol the cloth weaving with the lfresh filling is resumed where the old 'lilling failed.

This application is a division ot' .my prior application Se. No. 361,680, before mentioned, and herein l have claimed broadly the take-up mechanism and let-back devices, irrespective of their cooperation with the other mechanisms in a filling replenishing loom, claims covering the latter forming a part ot the parent application. For convenience,

viewed lrom the opposite side; Fig. 5 is an thc upper portion of Fig. 2, to more clearly illustrate the means lor ell'ecting disengagement of the detector from the cloth after detecting action Fig. 6 is a transverse scctional detail on the lim` 6&6, Fig. 5, to be referred to; Fig. 7 is an inner side view ol a portion olE the means lor ell'ecting disengagement ot the detector lrom the cloth. and lor controlling the duration olE such (liseiigagement Fig. 8 is a detail view in lront elevation of the longitudinally adjustable rock-shalt on which the thin-place detecting member is mounted.

YReferring to Fig, l the lay A, shuttleboxes ll, BX, the shuttle S ol any suitable automatically sell-threading type, the translerrer]U ol the repleuishing mechanism, the `filling-feeder shown in part at F, and the controlling rock-shalt d l'or such mechanism, may be and are all ol the Northrop type, the lel't hand temple rl` being also shown, mnitting the one at the right hand or replenishing side ol the loom.

l have herein shown a bracket or stand l, secured to the support lor the. temple stand however, I have herein shown the invention rlV, and having an arm 2, rearwardly exas applied to an automatic loom ol the Nortended over and beyond the breast beam throp type, such for instance as is shown Aw, and provided. at its end with a bearing in United States Patent to Northrop, No. 3, a second bearing Ll being lixedly mounted 529,940, dated November 27, 1804, but it will on the lelt hand end ol the breast beam, said appear clearly liereinalfter that my present bearings supporting a rock shalt herein invention is not restricted to a loom ol: that shown as limgitudinally adjustable., and cointype. prising two men'ibers 5 and 6, Alitted together,

Figure 1 is a top plan view ot a sullicient and rigidly connected by suitable screws 7, portion of a loom to be understood, broken the shanks ol the screws passing through out between its sides, and having applied slots S in the member 6, so that the latter portion ol the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 and enlarged detail ol: the mechanism shown in.

member can be moved transversely of the loom, the inner end of the shaft member 6 being rearwardly extended at 9, see also Fig. 4, to form a support or carrier for the thinplace detecting member to be referred to.

- Upon the carrier 9 is mounted a longitudinally-slidable plate 10, provided with longitudinal slots 11 to receive the shanks of headed screws 12, which guide the plate 10, and at the same time retain it in place on the carrier, while permitting fore and aft movement thereof, a spring 13 attached to said plate at one end and at its other end to the carrier normally tending to hold the plate in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The rear end of said plate has attached to it the detecting member proper, shown as a downl turned finger 14 provided at its upper end with a flattened shank 15 longitudinally slotted at 16, Fig. 1, and adjustably held on the plate 10 by a set screw 17. By this construction the detecting member or finger 14 can be adjusted on the plate 1() toward or away from the fell of the cloth, so that under normal conditions, said detecting member will rest upon the cloth at the proper distance forward of the fell, such distance varying with the character of the cloth being woven, and with the manner in which the filling is beaten in. Ordinarily the detecting member rests upon the cloth at a distance from 4 to 10 picks forward of the fell.

When the running filling fails, the weaving operation continues until the cloth has been taken up a sufficient distance to enable the detector 14 to detect such absence of filling in the cloth being woven, and thereupon the detecting member drops down through the warp as is usual with thin place detecting devices, the rock-shaft 5, 6 at such time turning in its bearings.

A collar 13 is clamped on the shaft at the inner end of the bearing 3, and at the outer end of the bearing 4 is secured the hub 19 of a rearwardly extended and upwardly rinl clined arm 20, upturned at its extremity and j shaped to present an upright, elongated guide 21, see Figs. 5 and 6.

A latch 22 having its rear end shaped to resent a tooth 23 is extended loosely through the guide 21, and at its forward end the latch is fulcrumed at 24 between ears 25 formed on the lateral head of an upright arm 26, the hub- 27 of said arm being secured on the controlling or operating rock-shaft d, hereinbefore referred to, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. j

Normally the latch is held in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5, by the bottom of the guide 21 with its rear end or tooth 23 above the path of movement of the notched or shouldered head 23 of a vibrating actuator 29, fulcrumed on the loom-frame at 30, and l having a depending extension 31 provided with a follower 32 which coperates with a cam 33 on the usual cam-shaft 34 of the loom to be hereinafter referred to. This vibrating member or actuator is similar to the usual weft hammer of a loom, and in the present instance makes one complete reciprocation for every two picks, and herein the head of the actuator begins its forward movement just before the pick of the shuttle to the vright hand box BX, and returns just before the following pick. lf the latch 22 is permitted to descend to bring its tooth 23 into the path of the shoulder 23 of the head of said actuator on the forward stroke of thc latter, it will be manifest that the latch will be moved longitudinally to the right, viewing Figs. 2 and 5, and through its connection with the upright arm 26, the rock-shaft d will be turned in the direction of the arrow 35, Fig. 2, to thereby effect the actuation of the replenishing mechanism when the shuttle is in the box B at the replenishing side of the loom. The coperation of the latch and vibrating actuator is controlled by the thin-plate detector hereinbefore described.

The member 5 of the adjustable rock-shaft 5, 6 is extended beyond the hub 19 of the arm 20, which latter is a species of detent for the latch, and on the extended portion of the shaft member 5 is loosely mounted the hub 36 of an arm 37 connected with the hub 19 by a spring 38. One end of the spring is fixedly secured to said hub and the other end to the arm 37, the winding of the spring being such that elevation of the arm 37 will tighten the spring. A collar 39 on the shaft member retains the arm 37 in place, and this arm 1 have termed a lifter or lifting device, to at the proper time lift the latch 22 from engagement or cooperation with the vibrating actuator 29, and the thin place detector from the cloth.

From the foregoing description,"it will be manifest that so long as the detecting member 14 rests upon the cloth, the detent 2O will be held in such a position that/the latch 22 cannot be engaged by the shouldered head of the actuator 29, but as Asoon as the detector detects filling absence, it drops and turns the rock-shaft 5, 6 lowering the detent 20, and thereby placing the latch in position to be engaged by the actuator with the resultant operation of the illing-replenishing mechanism.

It is desirable to remove the thin-place detector from engagement with the cloth just as soon as possible after filling-absence has been detected, and this is accomplished through the lifting device or arm 37 in a manner now to be described.

A bracket 4() rearwardly extended from the breast beam between the detent 2O and the lifter 37, see Fig. 1, is provided with a lateral stud 41, on which is mounted a disk 42 having a series of ratchet teeth 43 on a portion of its periphery, and secured to or forming a part of said disk is a cam 44, adapted to at times cooperate with the lifter 37. A link is pivotally connected at 46 to the disk, and is extended forwardly above the breast-beam, the front end ot' the link having attached to it a longitudinally slotted extension 46X, which loosely receives an upright stud 47, projecting from the head ot' the upright arm 26 I provide a spring to normally retain the disk 42 and cam 44 in the position shownin Fig. 5, and herein such spring is shown at 4S loosely coiled` around the outer end ol the stud 41, and attached at one end thereto, the other end beingl secured to the disk. As the connection 46 between the link 45 and the disk is above the stud, it will be manit'est that the spring-induced movement ol the disk is limited by the engagement ol the stud 47 with the outer end otI the slotted extension 46X. New when the upper end ol' the arm 26 is swung outward, by coperation olE the vibrating actuator with the latch 22, the link 45 is moved to the right, viewing' Fig. 5, and turns the disk 42 in the direction ol the arrow 49, bringing the high portion ot' the cam 44 into engagement with and swinging' upward the litter 37, thereby win ding up or tigl'itening the spring 38, it being remembered that the latch. 22 is at such time held depressed by cooperation with the shoulder 28X ol the actuator. As the disk is turned in the direction ot' the arrow 49, the ratchetteeth click past an escapement 50, pivotally mounted at 51 on the rear end ot' the bracket 40, said escapement being' acted upon by a spring 52, which tends to throw the lower tooth 53 into engagement with the ratchet, and the upper tooth 54 out ol such engagement. A ringer 55 attached to the actuator 29 is adapted to engage the depending tail 56, of said eseapement, as the actuator approaches its rearmost position, withdrawing the tooth 53 from theratchetandmoving the tooth 54 into engagement therewith.

Vhen the latch is dropped into engagement with the actuator, the latter is on its forward stroke, and releases the esca pement betere the link 45 begins to turn the disk 42 in the direction of arrow 49. l'emembering that such rotation et' the disk 'iaiuses the cam 44 to wind or tighten the spring S38, and also remembering that the eseapement will remain in engagement with the ratchet teeth when the disk has completed such rotative movement, it will be manilest that the instant the actuator begins to go back, disengaging the shoulder 28X and the latch-tooth 23, the spring 3S will expand or unwind, and swing upward the detent 2l). '.lhereupou the latch is moved out otI range ot the actuator, and the rock-shalt 5, 6, is turned, to elevate the support or carrier t), disengaging the detector 14 from the cloth. The high portion ot the cam 44 at such time is beneath the adjacent end of the lilter 37, so that the latter cannot return to normal position until i l l l l i l i l the disk 42 returns to the position shown in Fig. 5. rlhis return is e'll'ected intermittingly or in a step-by-step manner by the coperation ol' the eseapement with the ratchet teeth 4b. The spring 4S tends to turn the disk oppositely to the arrow 4l), and as the vibrating actuator swings forward the tooth 53 ol the escapement is brought into engagement with the ratchet teeth and on the rearward stroke ol the actuator the tooth 53 is disengaged and the tooth 54 moved into engagement with the ratchet teeth. 'lhis locking ol the escapement permits the spring 4S to return the disk 42 and 'am 44 step by step to normal position. f

flt will be understood that as soon as 'lilling-replenishment has been ell'ected, the arm 26 and the rock-shaft d/ return to .normal position, assisted by a leal' springl 57, shown in Fig. 2, and bearing on the upper end ot' the arm 26. At this time, the stud 47 moves rearwardly in the slotted extension 46X, the lost motion between the said arm 26 and link 45 being necessary to permit the gradual return ol the disk to normal position.

The mechanism just described operates to withhold the detecting member from engagement with the cloth lor a predetermine(l number ol' picks, and then causes a gradual descent ot said member' into reengagement with the cloth, the gradual descent preventing any possibilityr ot' puncturing or tearing the cloth, as might happen were the detector allowed to drop quickly into detecting position. lVhen the detector is just about to rengagc the cloth, the cam 44 is just .ready to release the lil'ter 37. 'l`he complete movement ol said cam to normal position leaves such a clearance between it and the lil'ter as to present no obstacle to the descent ol the detector and the latch, when itilling absence is detected.

'lhe operation ole the take-up mechanism olv the loom is stopped or arrested by or through detection action ol" the thin-place detector, and the take-up roll is released from the control ol the take-up mechanism in order that let-back ol the cloth may be ell'ected, to carry the cloth back into proper position, so that when the l'resh lilling is shot across the loom, it will be properly beaten in.

lt is desirable to so adjust the thin-place detector that it will normally be engaged by the cloth as near the l'ell as possible, in order that when the detector operates the minimum amount ol let-back will be necessary. 'lhat is, the greater the amount let back the lower the percentage ol production on the loom, because the amount let back must be again taken up bel'ore normal weaving is resumed.

lt is not desirable to vary the amount be let back by varying the position ol the deteetor with relation to the lell, it being to l ' gagement, the

understood that some variation in the letj back must be provided on account of the j varying tensions under which different kinds l of fabric are woven. Hence, in order to vary the amount of let-back l have herein rovided means independent of the position I of the detector to effect such variation, and adjustable at the will of the operative.

Any suitable form of take-up mechanism may be employed, and herein l have shown a portion of the take-up mechanism comprising the ratchet 58, the coperating takeup pawl 59. mounted on. thepawl-carrier 60, Fig. 2, the vlatter having a forwardly extended upper end 61 having a lateral stud or projection 62, the ratchet 58 being operatively connected in any suitable manner with the take-up roll 63.

The take-up mechanism thus far described is substantially the same as in United States patent to Clement No. 643284, dated February 13, 1900. A detent pawl 64 normally coperates with the ratchet 58, and prevents retrograde movement thereof.

The arm 26 is extended downward at 265 below the rock-shaft, and it has attached to it tappets 65, 66, the latter having a lateral rejection 67 extended under the detent pawl 64 .while the extremity of the tappet 65 is extended under the pin or lug 62 on the pawlcarrier. Both tappets are adjustably secured to the extension 26 by suitable clamping bolts, so that the position of the tappets may be changed with relation to the parts of j the take-up mechanism with which they cooperate to shorten or lengthen the time during which let-back may be effected.

The cam 33 which operates the vibrating actuator 29 is herein shown as a circular or eccentric cam, having no dwell portion, as opposed to the usual cam, which has a dwell at the high portion. Now when a thin place Occurs and the detector drops the latch 22 moves into engagement with the head of the vibrating actuator, and as the cam rotates the forward movement of the actuator operates through the latch and the arm 26 to turn the rock-shaft d, and at the same time the depending extension 26X is swung rearward, bringing the tappets 65 and 66 into operation to disengage the pawls 59 and 64 from the take-up ratchet 58. By such disengagement take-up is arrested, and letback effected by reason of the tension of the cloth, and the amount of let-back is governed by the length of the period of such disenlonger the disengagement the greater the amount of let-back and vice versa. Owing to the shape of the cam 33 and the adjustability of the tappets 65 and 66 the duration of such disengagement can be varied from almost nothing to a very considerable extent. That is, by setting the tappets so that in the normal position of the l extension 26 said tappets are very close to -high tensions Aactuator head, and the their `respective coperating parts the disengagement of the pawls from the ratchet 59 will .begin earlier and will terminate later, making a long period of disengagement with a corresponding increase in the amount let back. On the other hand, by setting the tappets away from their coperating parts disengagement will begin later and will terminate earlier, shortening the period of disengagement and correspondingly decreasing the amount of let-back. lt will be obvious, therefore, that by setting the tappets back the proper distance the let-back can bemade as small as desired. With coarse weaves or on the cloth the adjustment referred to would be such as to make a very slight let-back, while with other weaves and lighter tensions the adjustment would be made to effect a greater amount of let-back. lf for any reason, the detecting member 14 should not be disengaged from the cloth before let-back is permitted, the said detecting member can move rearwardly with the cloth, owing to the sliding arrangement of the carrier 1() on the arm 9, the spring 13 at such time yielding to permit the rearward movement of the detector, and thereby preventing tearing or other injury to the cloth by or through the detector. When the latter is lifted, and disengaged from the cloth, the spring 13 contracts and returns the carrier 10 to normal position with relation to the rockerarm 9. As take-up is resumed, after the replenishment of filling has been effected, the normal operation of the loom is resumed, and weaving continues for several picks, and then the thin-place detector is permitted to resume its normal position, resting upon the cloth near the fell.

The longitudinal adjustment of the compound shaft 5,6 enables me to adjust the thin place detector laterally with relation to the temple and by referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that I can 'adjust the temple without necessarily changing the position of the thinplace detector relatively to the selvage of the cloth, for the temple can be moved as to the left, and the bracket or stand 1 will be moved with it, and when in proper position the collar 18 is reclamped on the thin-place detector rock-shaft, the said collar and the hub 19 of the detent preventing any longitudinal movement of the said rock-shaft in its bearin s.

g1f the detection of filling absence should occur on the pick of the shuttle to the right, then the latch 22 will be permitted to descend, but it will drop onto the top ofthe latter will slide under the latch as it moves to the rear, the latch tooth dropping in front of the shoulder 28 as the actuator completes its rearward stroke, and on the next or operative stroke, the rock-shaft d will be turned and a change of filling eifected, in a loom provided with j automatic filling replenishing mechanism. In other words, it is immaterial on which pick the absence of 'filling is detected because the rock-shaft d will always be turned by or through such detection at the proper time l to effect a change of filling when the shuttle is in the shuttle-box BX. The thin-place detector is set in practice at such a distance in front of the fell of the cloth that it will not be hit by the reed on the beat-up and the harder the beating in of the filling, as a general tl'iing, the farther forward, away from the fell, must the detector be set. variation in the position of the detector is immaterial, however, for whether the distance between the detector and the fell be greater or less, the detector will operate as soon as filling-absence is detected.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that under normal conditions the cloth holds up the detector and the latter through the intervening connections holds the latch in its inoperative position, the detent member or arm 2() acting through the spring 38 to maintain the lifter 37 in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 7.

It is of course necessary that the latch shall be free to drop far enough to enter the path of the notched head ot' the vibrating actuator when filling absence is detected, and the clearance between the cam H and the adjacent end of the lifter permits this drop.

The toothed disk l2 will always return to normal position shown in F ig. 5, because the link l5 will limit its returning rotative movenient, acting as a check or stop to limit the return movement, and prevent any accidental disengagement of the ratchet teeth and the escapement.

The adjustment for advancing or delaying the arrest of the tal e-up is dependent largely upon the tension on the cloth. If there is considerable tension, the arrest or take-up is delayed somewhat, while on goods woven with a light-er tension, the arrest of take-up is advanced, so that in either case the letbacli will be amply su tlicient to bring the fell back into position for the fresh filling to be beaten in properly.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a loom, in combination, means to dej tect within the cloth absence of filling, and means to automatically let back the cloth by or through the operation, of said detecting means.

2. In a loom, in combination, means, including a detector normally resting on the cloth adjacent the fell, to detect filling absence in the cloth, an instrumentalityv to let ,l back the cloth by or through detecting acj tion of said detector, and means to disengage l automatically said detector from engagement with the cloth after detection of filling absence therein. i

3. ln a loom, take-up mechanism, and means to stop the operation thereof by or through detection within the cloth of lilling absence `rl. ln a loom, take-up mechanism, combined with means including a detector nor- :nally resting on the cloth near the fell, to stop the operation of said mechanism and let back the cloth upon detection by said detector of a thin place in the cloth, and mechanL isln to remove the detector from the cloth after detecting action and retain it inoperative until after the take-up mechanism has resumed control of and taken up the cloth.

5. In a loom, take-up mechanisn'i, and means operative by or through the occurrence of a thin place within the woven cloth tp arrest take-up and ell'ect let-back of the c oth.

(i. In a loom, a take-up roll, actuatingl means therefor, and means operative by or through detection of lilling absence within the woven fabric to release the take-up roll from the control of its actuating means.

7. The combination, in a loom, of take-up mechanism, including actuating and detent pawls, means to detect the absence of filling within the woven fabric, and an instrumentality operating upon detecting action of said means to render inoperative said pawls and thereby arrest take-up of the fabric and permit let back thereof.

8. ln a loom, in combiimtion, take-up mechanism, a thin-place detector, means to permit yielding movement thereof in a rearward direction, and connections between the detector and the take-up mechanism to stop take-up and permit let-back of the cloth upon detection of a thin place in the cloth, the yielding movement of the detector preventing tearing of the cloth by the detector. 9. ln a loom, 1n combination, take-up mechanism, including take-up and detent pawls and a ratchet with which they coperate, means to detect the absence of filling in the cloth, and adjustable coniiections between the said means and the pawls to disengage the same from the ratchet, stopping take-up and permitting let back of the cloth, when lilling absence in the cloth is detected, adjustment of the connections advancing or retarding the disengagement of the pawls and the ratchet to thereby vary the amount of let back.

l0. The combination, in a loom, of takeup mechanism, including actuating and detent pawls, means to detect the absence of filling in the fabric, an instrumentality oper ating upon detecting action of said means to render inoperative said pawls and thereby arrest take-up ol' the fabric and permit letback thereof, and adjustable means to Vary l mechanism, an instrumentality to" detect the time during` which said pawls are inoperl 'filling absence in the cloth and thereupon ative. 5 Vary the control of said take-up mechanism u l1. In a loo'm, in combination, take-up l upon the cloth, and means to advance or de= mechanism7 means to detect the absence of iilling in the cloth, and adjustable operating connections between said means and the take-up mechanism, to arrest take-up and ermit a predetermined amount of let-back of the cloth When filling absence in the cloth is detected, adjustment of the connections increasing or decreasing` the amount thel cloth is let back when take-up is arrested.

12. In a loom, in combination, take-up;

the take-up mechanism.

ln testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE H. LETN ER.

Ni tnesses A. S. Moimis, GEO. H. GERCKE.

lay the action of said instrumentality upon 

